Chapter 2
The imperial physicians spent two days taking turns examining him. Every one of them came out shaking his head.
I took out my spare phone and checked the livestreams first.
Qin Zhi hadn’t logged in for two days.
Then I synced the browser’s search history.
“What are little fleshy growths on your body?”
“What do people in ancient times do about cauliflower warts?”
“What is syphilis?”
“How do you get syphilis?”
“What does ‘will fly nationwide’ mean?”
That was where the questions stopped.
The thought of Qin Zhi scratching his legs and backside had me slapping my thigh with laughter.
Cuilan brought me a cup of tea. After a long hesitation, she finally asked.
“Your Majesty, why do you hate the emperor so much?”
My smile faded. I looked up at her.
“Cuilan, when did you enter the palace?”
She counted on her fingers.
“I’d been there three years before I began serving you. Six years altogether, then.”
“And did you say goodbye to your parents before you came?”
She nodded. Remembering it brought a wistful look to her eyes.
“Mother told me to eat properly. She said she’d save my wages for my dowry.”
Her little face reddened.
I lowered my head with a bitter laugh.
“You can leave when you turn eighteen, can’t you? Whatever happens, you have something to look forward to. But me…”
Before I came here, I’d just finished my university entrance exams. My family was throwing me a celebration for getting into university. The moment I stepped through the door, a voice in my head asked:
“Would you like to come?”
I thought someone in my family was calling me, so I said yes.
The next second, I was here.
I never even got to say goodbye.
At first, I thought some system had arranged it all. Only later did I learn that Qin Zhi was bound to a transmigration system. Once someone agreed, he could instantly transport them here.
He’d tricked many women into coming over, then used their knowledge to strengthen his country.
I looked at Cuilan’s astonished face. “Do you know what we call that where I’m from?”
She shook her head.
“Trafficking.” I ground my teeth. “Back home, traffickers get shot.”
For someone who abducted people and then murdered them, like Qin Zhi, even death by a thousand cuts would be too good!
Since arriving here, I’d searched everywhere for a way home. Nothing.
That was why I hated him. When he demanded to know what other modern technology I could offer, I took out the phone I’d prepared long before.
I’d carefully arranged everything on it. Enough to make him pay dearly.
I picked up the binoculars to keep watching the palace. Suddenly, Cuilan gripped my sleeve and dropped to her knees, facing behind me.
Qin Zhi stood there, his face dark.
“My empress. What a fine little show you’ve put on for me.”
I froze. So that was why he’d disappeared for two days: he’d been secretly hunting me down.
“Come back to the palace. I have something important to discuss with you.”